East Mountain House is the culmination of a 12-year-old vision which has been carefully refined and nurtured over the years with the help of our Co-Founder, Keavy Bedell. Craig has lived in Lakeville for the past 25 years and though known to be somewhat reclusive he is an ardent and vocal supporter of our community. He loves it here.

Craig’s true passion is tuning in to quietude and stillness. He frequently is walking on our trails and paths with his dog, Lucy. Craig has been practicing meditation for most of his adult life and is a graduate of New York Zen Center’s Foundations in Contemplative Care program; a 9-month hands on journey into pastoral care. Craig was on the Board of Directors of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care for four years and most recently was Chair of the Chokgyur Lingpa Foundation, Kybagon Phakchok Rinpoche’s teaching and education organization in the United States.. Craig is a chaplain in training and enjoys his time with 6 grandchildren, 4 of whom live in Lakeville. His favorite time is retreat in Nepal and he is passionate about simply being with friends and neighbors at the end of their lives who need compassionate support.

Keavy has called the Northwest Corner of Connecticut home for 20 years. Originally from New York City, she began her career in finance and insurance before settling in Lakeville, where she joined Craig and Sandy’s employee benefits firm. However, her true calling emerged when she started working part-time with elderly and infirm individuals in their homes. After the birth of her twins in 2010, Keavy transitioned fully into caregiving, dedicating herself to building and managing care teams of skilled aides and professionals to support the sick, elderly, and dying.

The COVID-19 pandemic deepened her commitment to end-of-life care, leading her to the Zen Center for Contemplative Care in New York City. While working full-time with homebound individuals, she completed ZCCC’s Foundations in Contemplative Care program, witnessing firsthand the profound suffering caused by isolation. This experience led her to further studies in The Art of Dying Thanatology Program with the One Spirit Alliance and mentorship with Henry Fersko-Weiss, a pioneer of the Death Doula movement.

Now a certified End-of-Life Doula, Keavy provides compassionate, holistic support to individuals and families navigating serious illness, aging, and death. She also serves as Chair of the Board of the After School Enrichment Program (S.O.A.R.) at the local public school and is an active community volunteer. Committed to meeting people where they are, Keavy strives to offer meaningful care, advocacy, and coordination, ensuring that no one faces life’s final transitions alone.

Sandy, Craig’s wife who died in 2020, was a beacon of support and light for Craig and countless others in our community.  East Mountain House exists as an extension of how Sandy lived in our turbulent world. It was a life dedicated to family and community, to love and happiness and sadness; to living fully in every moment, even at the end of her life.

let's meet here
where the me
turns to we
- SD